Daylily plant named `Yellow Silk Ruffles`

ABSTRACT

An new cultivar of dalylily plant named Yellow Silk Ruffles, characterized by its very large light yellow-orange flowers with very ruffled petal edges, very fragrant flowers which are fade resistant, reblooming ability, vigorous growth habit, and its very floriferous.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of daylilywhich belongs to the genus Hemerocallis, and is hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name Yellow Silk Ruffles.

The new cultivar is the result of an open pollination breeding programin which numerous unnamed and unidentified daylily cultivars wereplanted in an open cultivated field in a controlled environment inMerriville, Ind. Seed was collected from the open polliated femaleplants and grown in a controlled area in Merriville, Ind.

Well over one thousand seedling plants were mass-selected in earlysummer 1990, and grown out in Long Grove, Ill. in a cultivated area. Thenew cultivar was discovered and selected from the mass-selected plantsby inventor Ronald C. Inverson in August 1980 in such area in LongGrove, Ill.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Yellow Silk Ruffles wasaccomplished when divisions were taken from the selection in September1990 in a controlled environmental in Long Grove, Ill. by Ronald C.Iverson. Horticulture examination of selected units initiated in June1991 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for Yellow Silk Ruffles are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Yellow Silk Ruffles has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, anddaylength without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingobservations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown inLong Grove, Ill. under greenhouse conditions which approximate thosegenerally used in commerical practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Yellow Silk Ruffles which in combinationdistinguish this daylily as a new and distinct cultivar.

1. Light yellow-orange flower color, with the edges of the petals beingruffled and deeply crimped. The flowers are sun resistant and do notfade in bright light.

2. Flowers are highly fragrant.

3. Individual flowers are very large, being approximately 53/4 inches indiameter.

4. The plant has a healthy and vigorous growth habit.

5. Individual fans produce 2-3 flowering scapes in each season. Thisability to rebloom is a significant feature of the new cultivar.

6. Bloom season in Illinois is from late June continuously untilOctober. Flower opens about 7:00 a.m. and remains open the entire day.

The new cultivar is similar in certain respects to Fragrant Treasure,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,140, and also characterized byfragrant flowers, reblooming habit and yellow flowers. Yellow Silkruffles in distinguished from Fragrant Treasure by its larger flowers,slightly darker yellow petal color, and its prominent midveins which aredarker yellow in color compared to the surrounding petal area.

The accompanying color photographic drawings show typical flowercharacteristics of Yellow Silk Ruffles, with colors being as true aspossible with illustrations of this type.

The photo on sheet 1 is a side view of typical plants of the newcultivar grown in an open field.

The photo on sheet 2 is a greatly enlarged top view showing in muchgreater detail the flower parts.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on June 30 under hazy light conditionsat Long Grove, Ill.

Parentage:

Origin.--Selection from mass-selected seedling population obtained byopen pollination.

Parentage.--Seed parent: Unknown. Pollen parent: Unknown.

Classification:

Botanic.--Hemerocallis hybrid.

Commercial.--Large flower daylily cv. Yellow Silk Ruffles.

Plant description:

Form.--Wide, spreading.

Height.--Approximately 24 inches.

Growth habit.--Clump forming, vigorous.

Strength.--Moderate.

Foliage.--Size of leaf: 11/2 inches wide by 20 inches long. Shape ofleaf: Typical Hemerocallis. Texture: Fine. Color: Green 144A.

Bulbs.--Size: 6 inches long. Color: Tan.

Bud description:

Form.--Column shaped.

Size.--3 inches long.

Opening.--Flat.

Color.--Green.

Flowering description:

Blooming habit.--Late June continuously until October.

Size.--Very large, 53/4 inches in diameter.

Borne.--Perpendicular to flowering scape.

Shape.--Star.

Tepalage.--Number of tepals: 6. Arrangement: Star. Color: Upper surface:16D. Under surface: 14C. Tepal longevity: One day. Spotting: Nomarkings. Color change: Color is very persistent with no or very littlefading even on hot days. Texture: Thick, deeply ruffled edges, edges arecrimped and thinner. Veins are depressed and 17A in color. Midveins areparticularly prominent. Disease resistance: No recognized problems.Fragrance: Slightly sweet fragrance. Lasting quality; One day.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens, anthers.--Arrangement: Central, erect. Length: 2 inches.Number: Six. Filaments: Six.

Pistils.--3 inches in length.

Stigma.--Light yellow.

Fruit:

Shape.--Round.

Color at maturity.--Black.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of daylily plant named YellowSilk Ruffles, as illustrated and described.